Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-02
HERALD, SATURDAY, july 2, 1887
M. HALLS ADDRESS.

at the same time the horse he was riding was
side of the road, and fell dead in the field
Serg't Cafferty to If possible make his escape
ran across a wheat field to the culvert on the
ed. This was Cafferty's second capture at this
place, the first being one week previous on
the 18th. He had at thai time been held q
prisoner for several days. but made his escape
and e-joined Boyd's command at Chambers
| burg two days before his second capture
Fleming Ee House he re resolved to charge and cut
| his way through the enemy's line and pass
through town and take the road to either
Waynesboro or Mercersburg, but seeing Jen-
kens brigade formed between him and the
town. saw the attempt would prove fruitiess
and he then withdrew his command and fell
| back slowly towards Chambersburg, haIting
| in the woods of Mr.. Groves trying to draw a
party OF the l4th Va. Cavalry who were eau :
tiously following him into an am iD
As to the command and its principal partici-
pants: Capt. VIM. N. Boyd had recruited Co.
took them into the service on July 18th, 1861.
| He arose to the rank of Major In that regiment
| and at the close of the Gettysburg campaign
| was commissioned Colonel and raised the 2lst
Penna. Cavalry, as brave regiment as was
his old company. He was severely wounded
in the neck at Cold Harbor in June. 1864. and
| so disabled as tn be compelled to leave the
service on Nov. 4th, 1854. and with the rank of
Brevet Brigadier General. Let me here say
that Boyd and his gallant command we've all
the troops that on June Is, IL and II stood be-
| tween the Confederate advance of Lees army
and the Capital of our State. To him and his
command alone is due the credit that Harris
burg was not captured by Jenkens. And am
sorry to say that this fact Is only at this late
day beginning to be fully understood. A
more gallant soldier or Drawer never lived
than the modest retireing Boyd.
Corpl VIM. II. Rihl enlisted on July 10, 1861.
He was at the time of his death the 7th Cor
poral of Co. g. In appearance he was tall
slender and bOyish, and about - years old.
Nothing is known of his antecedents. He was
brave, gallant soldier and you do well to thus
honor him.
knew him! by all that's noble. knew
This common place hero Rihl!
I've camped with him, marched with him,
fought with him too,
In the swirl of the fierce battle flame
Laughed with him. joked with him, taken
apart
OF his canteen and blanket, and known
That the throb of this chivalrOus boys heart,
Was an answering stroke OF my own.
knew him tell yon! Alas also saw
When he fell on the edge of your town.
And knew that the poor battered body that
lay there in blue
Was only plank in the bridge
Over which old Co. &c " should pass to a fame
That shall shine while the high stars shall
shine.
Heroes are known by an echoing name.
But the man of the Sabre, brave Corp1 Rihl
is mine.
1 knew him. All through him the good and
the bad
Ran together and equally free;
But judge as | trust Christ win judge the
brave lad,
For death made him noble to me!
In the cyclone of war, in the charges eclipse
Life shook out It's lingering sands,
And died with the name that he loved OH his
His Sabre grasped tight in his hand!
Close up to the flag our Corporal went down,
In the salient front of the line;
You may talk for your Hero, the man of re-
But the man of the Sabre, brave Corpl Rihl
is mine.
Sergt Cafferty when captured was paroled
by Genl Jenkens on account of the severity
one of your honored citizens took him into
his home and cared for him, while your vener-
able and honored townsman DIR. Carl. and his
son DR.. George Carl attended to his wound.
Cafferty arose to the rank of LIST Lieutenant In
his regiment, and is a prosperous citizen of
5srssy e1 fba o6 Ts e va
horse. Captain Jos. A. Wilson of Co 81 18th
Va. Cavalry entered the Confederate service
as a private and arose to the rank of Captain,
and lost his left arm at the shoulder. His
company had been organized several years be-
fore the opening of the war. He is q prosper
Old Co. co lost the first Union Vol. Cav'y
soldier killed in the war, Jacob Erwin, killed
at Pohlck Church, Va. Aug. 18th, 1861, while
COrp'l Rihl was the first Union soldier killed
in action in Penna. during the war.
Comrades we would still linger here, our
memory leaplng back to the tented field, to
the bivouac-to the march-to the roar of bat
tie, and the wild mad charge with all its
dread and gruesome fasc nations. Visions OF
our comrades rise before us-men loved and
trusted, men by whose side we obeyed the
bugle's call and rushed to glory. AS the shades
gather In these forms assume greater dis
tnctness, and faces come to us long forgotten;
traits buried beneath the sands of time
Words spoken in bitter strait and supreme
moments ere lips grow cold, forever float in
the evening air. Comrades with whom we
serv ed march slowly by in ghostly array, and
eyes re-illumed shine upon us, and lips smile
as comrade after comrade file slowly by.
Memory is busy teeming with recollections
of the past in which our comrade placed his
life upon the hazard of the die in the cause he
loved even unto death. So we hear most
clearly and see most distinctly the shadowy
form of the comrade with whom we marched
and charged twenty -four long years ago.